I've got a question for BK owners

Not trying to be a segregationist or anything, but this applies to stoves with a t-stat.
I've seen tons of info on how BK stoves are run, but (and I probably missed it), when it's cold...say 10 deg., how do you load the stove and then, more importantly, how do you set the stat for a long burn.
Not for a long low burn, rather, a burn to give the heat needed to keep the house warm.
If that's a low burn, so be it. If that's the case, your house is well insulated or maybe small (like mine....the small reference), or both.
When/if I end up with a BK, I'd like to know where to start. I'm sure I'm capable of figuring it out, but then, what's the point of coming here, eh?

 

Dave also knows his BK stove pretty well. I'm sure he will chime in, as well.

 

Yep, I'm just waiting.
I noticed in another thread that rdust is here now.
Waiting for jeff, Dave, rdust, Rickb, and anybody else I've forgotten, to chime in. No offense to those guys, but my memory sucks.

 

Those temps for 10-12 hours?
Holy canoli, I'd be in heaven.
I'm into the Oak right now, and it holds temps much longer than anything else I have.
I'm liking this so far. Thanks swags.
You win the door prize for being #1 contestant. Have some popcorn....on me.

 

Balls out burning for me is 6-8 BIG splits, stat at 2,25-2.5, and the blowers kicking. That will get me 5-6 hrs at 600-650, then it wil taper down to 500-550. After about 10 hrs or so, it's wide open, burn the coals down time. That's good for a few more hours at 500+. If really cold out, I'll reload it pretty hot.

Sis doesn't need to run hers that high to get those temps, probably because of the 26' of pipe. Usually not over 2. Funny though, at low burn it doesn't act any different than mine.

 

Great thread. This helps me understand what I could expect from a Princess and a King.

 

Dave in almost any weather I run mine on the same T-stat setting and use the blower to regulate heat output.
This is where mine is set right now, it's 41* outside so the blower isn't running.(sorry for the lousy cell picture but it's the quickest way)



When it's in the teens or colder I may have to run it up to the n or o on normal but that's usually about it. In the spring or fall time when it's warm I dial it down between 1-1.5 but that part of the season doesn't last too long. Those are the times where full loads and that t-stat setting will get you 30 hour burns which isn't something I need. I usually shoot for 12 or 24 hour burns during the week due to my work schedule and on the weekend I let it go as long as it can before reloads. Yesterday afternoon I loaded around 3pm and I just loaded about an hour ago(12:30pm). I didn't run the blower yesterday and kept the house slightly cooler than normal since my in-laws were visiting.(68ish and low 70's in the stove room).

If you ever come down into the city I'd be more than happy to give you a run down on the stove. Heck I may even be ready to sell mine by the time you're ready to buy one. I've been eying the Ashford!

 

Fantastic info. This is what I've been looking for.
BBar, I had the both of us in mind while thinking about this.
Wow Jeff, that's great news.
Here's the thing. I can load my old Ashley full when it's cold out (8-12 splits, depending on size) and once it's cruising, shut 'er down for the night.
7-9 hours later, I'm up (usually sooner) and the stove is anywhere from 250-400 deg., but the house is cool.....63-67. That's why the insulation thing is happening.
I actually had some 2ndary stuff going on last night (not the first time). I put 2 splits on the coals this a.m. @ about 8:30, and warmed the house to 71, and let it cool.
The house is now at 68 and it's right at the freezing mark outside. Better than ever, but with a BK (and better insulation), the house would still be warmer for the rest of the day.
Being able to keep those kinds of temps for that long will be extremely helpful.

Which city we talkin' bout rdust? N/M, found it. What's behind that brickwork?
I just came home Friday from a turkey day overnight trip to the M-59, Duck Lake Rd. area.

 

It's a solid brick wall(two rows of bricks wide), the other side of the wall is the fireplace in my living room.

You weren't too far from me.

 

After a few years I've learned to look at the forecast & the outside temps, &
Wind too, (wind causes mine to draft more so I adjust accordingly. about 1/8 to 1/4 less on the stat)

Each set up is gonna be different, so my setting/s won't fits every set up.

Norm for me is on 2 or medium, but for me , I call it my low setting.
Just the setting that burn well & long with a good steady heat output
Then I use the blower speed to regulate.
The stat keep the stove at "X" temp, as the blower cools it down, the stat opens a little more for more inlet air.
Above 38° OAT, I set 1-3/4 to 1-7/8, thats my low or " stat closed" position, no fan, for long 24 to 30 hour burns.

At -12 last night, I burned on 2-3/4, which is high. blower at 75% to get an all night burn & lot of heat.
In the morning I crank it up to 3 , fan full speed, to keep it hot for a couple hours & burn down to make room for a hot reload.
10 to 14 hour burn.
Stove is just a pile of glowing coals in the back & sides & the cat is not glowing, stack temp is warm.

Just did a hot 3/4 reload, running stat on 2-3/4, fan max, up to O° OAT now.
Will let it run there today to get a good coal burn down so there's room for a full load tonight around 9 or 10

Might mix the coals after supper , run on 3 to burn the coals down before the overnight reload.
Again variables. some time it needs mixed , some times not.

High 20° days & teens at night, 2-1/4 night, 40% blower.
Low 20° single digit nights, 2-1/4 night, 75% blower
These temps usually mean I need a medium hot reload around noon, little over a 1/2 a full load
so it'll be burned down with room for a full load at night.

Sounds a little confusing but it's just the "learning curve"
Everyone's goes thru it with different stoves & different set ups , learning your system.

I'm still learning.
like, for warm reloads, some birch bark & a small piece of kindling in the gap in front of the splits
gets the fire raging a lot quicker.

 

Yep, I get that learning curve thing. Not confusing at all.
I'm on a bit of a re-learning curve right now with the added Class A.
I could do full loads all winter, but there are times when once a load burns down and there are tons of coals, the heat remaining isn't enough to keep the house warm.
Yet, too many coals to reload. I started pulling the coals forward, then adding a split or 2 to keep temps up a little while also burning down the coal bed.
It's a balancing act, for sure.
Seems you BK guys have a bit easier time of it.

 

If more of you guys only burned Lodgepole and Aspen, I might be able to lend some past experience.....sheesh!
I will say that I set the T-stat according to how 'that' particular load is burning.

 

How much of a problem is cat stalling in the low burns? I'm burning when its cold in the house and sometimes the temps are in the 60's. My house gets no solar gain in the fall until the leaves drop.

 

I've never had a problem but I have a taller stack. If the chimney is at minimum height you could have an issue, even with that you can probably manage just fine by burning at a slightly higher setting.

 

I'm right at 15' straight up.